The first round of Microsoft Kinect reviews are in and so far things are looking OK. The consensus seems to be that Kinect for Xb0x 360 has potential but it’s far from fulfilling it at the moment. The launch was weak thanks to some kinks in the firmware and lag, but everyone is confident that things will improve over time. Finally, almost everyone pointed out that you need a lot of room to use this thing, so apartment dwellers beware.

Engadget – 6/10
“The Kinect as hardware is great, but there’s plenty of room for software engineers and UI designers to improve.”

Gizmodo
“It’s also hard to justify the $150 price tag right now—especially when you need to purchase a whole raft of new games at $50 a pop just to use the thing.”

Shack News
“Kinect lands a solid hit with the tech but its real-world practicality remains in question to me… When Kinect becomes the device that lets me sit on the couch and interact with my 360 and some games it will earn a permanent place on my gaming center, until then it’s reserved for group game night.”

Galaxy Next Door
“No, we can’t scan skateboards into the system or change avatar clothes with friends in Norway, or hell even jack into the Matrix. But what Kinect does do is pull off an amazingly accurate job of capturing the human body… As I said, you’re banking on potential with Kinect, and with Microsoft’s massive support for the wonder sensor – the future of motion gaming on the Xbox 360 is only limited by the power of the game designers behind it.”

Tech Radar – 3.5/5
“We like Kinect a lot. But it’s not a perfect product by any means, and many hardcore gamers out there are going to be disappointed by it.”

Joystiq
“If Kinect does work for you, congratulations: you have what amounts — for now — to a novelty peripheral that is in no way geared towards the day-one buyer or “core” gamer.”

Kotaku
“Kinect doesn’t replace the Wii any more than it does an Xbox controller. It’s not even a sure thing as a games platform, not until it has its first great game. But it doesn’t have to be. If Kinect becomes nothing more than a replacement for the TV remote, it’ll prove to be a winner.”

CVG – 8.8
“If you’re after motion gaming that can truly rival the joypad… I’d give it time. Those Kinect Hub skeletal scan demos are inarguably very exciting, but, for now, they’re just tantalising tastes of what’s possible. The launch software can’t match up… However, if you’re looking for a gizmo that will… offer mouth-moisturising long-term promise into the bargain, you can’t go far wrong.”

If you are limited on time but want to get a full review (or two) under your belt, I’d recommending checking out those at Kotaku and Joystiq. Kotaku’s is insightful and Joystiq’s is one of the more negative ones, but reflects a lot of the hesitation I have with motion control. Their coverage of the Kinect’s single stand-out game, Dance Central, was more positive.